If it wasn't coming from the horses mouth I would have guessed that this story was coming from a 13yo Anutter who put 2 and 2 together to get 5000.

As it is, this is definitely a very interesting development.

After all the official secrecy surrounding the QF tie-up until the ink had dried, why are they going public now? Could it be to force AA's hand ("look everyone knows about it now, so just hurry up and sign") or with the rumoured agreement between BA and QR being imminent in order to try and throw a spanner in the works and make BA take another look at EK?

And after all the comments that QF should be thrown out of OW etc etc, maybe it will be BA who ends up being the dark horse after all (I speak in jest, of course)

Quoting RyanairGuru (Reply 2):And after all the comments that QF should be thrown out of OW etc etc, maybe it will be BA who ends up being the dark horse after all (I speak in jest, of course)

I KNEW IT! I speculated early on that this sort of tie up would make logical sense for AA given what was occuring with QF and given some of the similarities in strategy between the 2. If Tim Clarke is able to stitch up an AA deal it'll be interesting to see what Etihad does in response.

It also puts the speculated QR entrance into OW and speculated closer relations with BA into the spotlight.

EK brings South Asia to the table. While BA also competes on many of the routes, folks may prefer to change planes in DXB for such trips rather than LHR. Routing on EK also avoids the absurd departure taxes etc levied by the British government.

It puts BA in an interesting position given they have a One World and j/v tie up with AA. Would such a venture between EK and AA hurt BA?

Quoting RyanairGuru (Reply 2):If it wasn't coming from the horses mouth I would have guessed that this story was coming from a 13yo Anutter who put 2 and 2 together to get 5000.

I nearly fell out of my chair when I read the title of this thread. No joke.

Quoting RyanairGuru (Reply 2):After all the official secrecy surrounding the QF tie-up until the ink had dried, why are they going public now? Could it be to force AA's hand ("look everyone knows about it now, so just hurry up and sign") or with the rumoured agreement between BA and QR being imminent in order to try and throw a spanner in the works and make BA take another look at EK?

Its really getting interesting eh.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 3):It also puts the speculated QR entrance into OW and speculated closer relations with BA into the spotlight.

The OW angle is, indeed, looking intriguing. Has EK decided to beef up OW to start snapping at LH and *A's heels?

Things look like they might get interesting soon. Businessweek (I think) was speculating about how the QF/EK deal might shake up alliances. Maybe they were on to something.

It makes sense that EK would eventually start pairing up with other carriers. They can only grow organically so far, and it's possible we are seeing the beginning of a plateau phase of in-house growth. It's called maturation. Also, they do not have the geographic advantage for most Americans (and we'll include Canadians in there too) that they do between Europe and Australasia. So it makes sense they're seeking a partner to drive traffic their way.

Addition to what mentioned already, EK brings AA some added traffic flow -- direct connections in places like DFW, LAX, ORD, JFK into the AA network. Every additional dollar generated is a positive for AA.
Also EK would bring a strong partner for AAdvantage. I could see most Americas region EK Skywards members switch to holding AAdvantage cards instead due to the greater flexibility.

I dont believe its EK that is driving these partnerships, but the other parties instead seeking the association.
Basically its the "if you can't beat them, join them" mantra. EK has built a fantastic global franchise that has lots to offer its potential partners.

I could see this coming as soon as the ink was dry on the QF deal. EK already serves 3 out of AA's five cornerstones: JFK, LAX, and DFW. And ORD and MIA have been rumored additions to the EK route map for eons. Should AA and EK codeshare and EK start DXB-ORD, it would be the perfect replacement for AA's ORD-DEL. It would be even better for frequent-flyers, as AAdvantage members could gain EK's access to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia while Skywards members could redeem their miles for US domestic flights (which they currently cannot do).

Another possibility from this deal that no one has mentioned: a cash injection from cash-rich EK and/or stake (under 25%) in AA to help them emerge from Chapter 11. EK's backing of AA's reorganization could help AA fend off a US takeover bid (friendly or hostile).

But should this happen and if BA teams up with EK and not QR as a result, I think it would be basically a given that EK will join oneworld within five years of an AA/EK codeshare/FF deal.

Quoting FWAERJ (Reply 11):But should this happen and if BA teams up with EK and not QR as a result, I think it would be basically a given that EK will join oneworld within five years of an AA/EK codeshare/FF deal.

I'm sure it wont be easy for BA, but if they could put aside their differences and play nice with EK then that could bring some serious cache back to OW as a whole.

These postings or comments are not a company-sponsored source of communication.

Quoting ASA (Reply 9):Do you mean, QR will be going in OW ... while the stalwarts AA and QF will be thrown out?!!

EK seems to be tearing apart the world's largest alliances ... is a new alliance forming then?

There is plenty of room for them to co-exist within OW. No need for anyone to go anywhere.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 10):Also EK would bring a strong partner for AAdvantage. I could see most Americas region EK Skywards members switch to holding AAdvantage cards instead due to the greater flexibility.

What Tim Clarke said about Qantas Frequent Flyers could easily be said about AAdvantage members. It is the potential for EK to tap into the huge number of members and allow them to earn and burn points on them, that would have driven EK to do this with AA along with the traffic flows you mention at AA hubs.

Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! I agree that I wouldn't believe it if we we're hearing it directly from the horse's mouth.

I'm sure DL and UA are just about crapping in their pants right now. Although I don't think they'll have too much to worry about until EK and LATAM announce that they're in talks too!

In all seriousness, this would be a very welcome partnership from an AA standpoint. An AA/EK tie up would be great for ME/Africa/Indian flying. At the same time it shouldn't really interfere that much with AA/IAG partnership to Europe, except for those looking to save money avoiding all the UK taxes and BA fuel surcharges, especially to points south and east .

However, I can't help but feel if talks have really been going on since last year that Tim Clark using the QF partnership wave to put a little more pressure on AA to make a decision sooner rather than later; especially with the reported BA/QR discussions going on.

While I can see how this would be great for AA and EK, but this has to be bad for BA. BA just lost their Australia feed for their SIN-LHR route and now they are going to lose both TATL traffic and eastbound traffic from LHR. That has got to sting...unless BA was talking to EK, as well...hmmmm.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 13):There is plenty of room for them to co-exist within OW. No need for anyone to go anywhere.

I meant, if QR is indeed talking to BA about OW ... and EK and AA are getting cozy (QF surrendered already) ... then what is the final form of OW ? Can BA + QR + AA + QF + EK all be within OW ??? I seriously doubt that.

1. Either EK gets in OW ... and BA swallows it up and gets cozy with the AA+EK+QF trio.
[QR would probably end up getting cozy with UA again and *A in that case.]
2. QR actually gets in OW ... AA + QF + EK go their own way ... plenty strong on their own!
[that would be a HUGE shift in the global airline networks as of now ...]
3. OW exists as is ... EK just maintains a loose alliance with AA and QF ... while QR with BA
[but somehow I see the chances of the 3rd option very slim ... any thoughts?]

Quoting nomorerjs (Reply 14):
This may be what finally brings EK to MIA and ORD. EY at ORD will be interesting if they lose AA feed. And BA? First QF, now AA? This industry is a real life soap opera.

Looks like, the loser of these new ententes is EY. They never launched DFW (would have probably worked with their preferred tie with AA) ... but EK took that over. They declared IAD ... but with too much lead time ... and EK preempts them their as well. And now, EK is snapping away their US ally altogether ... will probably launch ORD and MIA in no time.

Being headquartered just about 100 miles away DXB ... these EY guys are constantly being harrassed by this big airline from their small (Abu Dhabi is the capital, after all) neighbor.

With EK making a partnership with QF and then making talks with AA, 2 massive OW players, couldn't this lead for membership talks if these deals go through?

For the record, I can see EK in OW, Etihad in Star, and QR in Skyteam. Etihad is the smaller of the 3 Gulf carriers and with TK in Star, they are the best candidate of the Gulf carriers, if they decide to join. EK for making deals with massive OW players and pissing off LH. QR and Skyteam are the odd men out so I just put two and two together. This is just my ...

Quoting ASA (Reply 18):1. Either EK gets in OW ... and BA swallows it up and gets cozy with the AA+EK+QF trio.
[QR would probably end up getting cozy with UA again and *A in that case.]
2. QR actually gets in OW ... AA + QF + EK go their own way ... plenty strong on their own!
[that would be a HUGE shift in the global airline networks as of now ...]
3. OW exists as is ... EK just maintains a loose alliance with AA and QF ... while QR with BA
[but somehow I see the chances of the 3rd option very slim ... any thoughts?]

I could almost see this as EK trying to force IAGs hand for your option number 1.

The third one might well work, but I really think that the various airlines would want to cooperate more along the lines of how Cathay does

Now the second one, if they were to get an airline that could cover central and eastern Europe (none really come to my mind), get LATAM to defect, a Chinese airline that is willing to play nice (HU?) and maybe another Asian carrier like JL, then you would have one powerhouse of an alliance. (At least in my own world..)

Quoting RyanairGuru (Reply 2):If it wasn't coming from the horses mouth I would have guessed that this story was coming from a 13yo Anutter who put 2 and 2 together to get 5000.

Quoting Sydscott (Reply 13):EK seems to be tearing apart the world's largest alliances ... is a new alliance forming then?
There is plenty of room for them to co-exist within OW. No need for anyone to go anywhere.

Here's a thought. AA wants no deal with US. BA said they welcome an AA-US merger. I wonder if this is sticking a fork in their partner for supporting US...or more accurately driving them away from US Airways by implying they could blow up OW if BA doesn't get on their side.

I just had a thought seeing this comment: the benefits for AA are pretty clear (ie India), but could this flow both ways and be EK's route into Canada???

AA fly from JFK to YYZ and YUL and from ORD to YYZ, YUL and YOW (I'm assuming the EK to ORD is imminent if this is the case) not to mention SEA to YVR and YYC via AS.

There is actually a precedent for this: when EK and QF announced their marriage everyone jumped onto the benefits to QF regarding Europe, but few people noticed that last week QF that they are launching PER-AKL (a market that they've never expressewith times that mysteriously link up with EK's flights from DXB-PER. EK is maxed out on Trans-Tasman frequencies so its fairly apparent that EK are using QF to increase their capacity to New Zealand.

Quoting ASA (Reply 18):1. Either EK gets in OW ... and BA swallows it up and gets cozy with the AA+EK+QF trio.
[QR would probably end up getting cozy with UA again and *A in that case.]
2. QR actually gets in OW ... AA + QF + EK go their own way ... plenty strong on their own!
[that would be a HUGE shift in the global airline networks as of now ...]
3. OW exists as is ... EK just maintains a loose alliance with AA and QF ... while QR with BA
[but somehow I see the chances of the 3rd option very slim ... any thoughts?]

I'd suggest have a read of these 2 articles. While they don't contemplate AA joining with EK they're a pretty good summation of the QF/EK deal on OW as a whole. (i.e. negligible impact really)

Mr Mehdorn's comments underscore that global alliances are increasingly simple but important groupings to appease passengers with a network of frequent flyer and recognition alignment. Even within alliances member carriers compete against each other where there is no revenue sharing. The bigger value of alliances to airlines is derived from codeshares and joint-ventures, and so airlines – be it airberlin or Qantas – need to have a platform for passenger loyalty but not be shackled to it in such a way that prevents smarter partnerships, such as with Etihad or Emirates.

That view can still be heretical, especially to staunch anti-Gulf carriers like Air Canada and Lufthansa, whose underlying problem is perhaps less about competition and more of a lack of strategy or willingness to realise potential benefits. Rewards for stagnation are not great. The impending entry announcement of Qatar in oneworld will push global alliance and partnership re-thinks.

Quoting RyanairGuru (Reply 22):I just had a thought seeing this comment: the benefits for AA are pretty clear (ie India), but could this flow both ways and be EK's route into Canada???

AA fly from JFK to YYZ and YUL and from ORD to YYZ, YUL and YOW (I'm assuming the EK to ORD is imminent if this is the case) not to mention SEA to YVR and YYC via AS.

EK aren't after flying people from Dubai to Canada; they are after the India - Canada market. So I don't know many people would want to do India - Dubai - Chicago - Canada when there are easier options.

25 crAAzy
: Interesting, but I'm not sure AA developing a partnership with EK would blow up OW leaving BA out in the cold. The main reason being that flights fro

26 ual777uk
: Somehow I doubt it for many of the reasons YOU state below. AA has woken up and realised there is more to life than just LHR and TYO, something UA an

27 EK413
: The JSA agreement was crumbling and BA stated it was time to drop the agreement... The aircraft tied up on the kangaroo route will be redeployed on p

28 mogandoCI
: Well said. While many airlines are discovering how the 787 could open up exciting nonstops to second tier and thinner routes, AA and QF had been goin

29 enilria
: The other factor is AA may not be happy that QF was thrown out of OW. One can assume that was completely driven by BA as BA and LH really hate EK. QF

30 LAXdude1023
: Actually CLT is anything but low yield. On the contrary its actually a pretty high yielding market.

31 ju068
: If this deal really does materialize could we see Emirates send more A380s to the US? This is actually quite smart of American Airlines as they not on